Convertible desk



July 31, 1923. 1,463.29

A. MITCHELL CONVERTIBLE DESK Filed July 25 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet l @6 3 Mam? July 31, 1923. EAfiBZ A. MITCHELL CONVERTIBLE DESK Filed July 23 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 1 since/MM H.1EZz'fchell.

I July 31, 1923. 1,463,28Q

A. MITCHELL CONVERTIBLE DESK Filed July 23 1921 4 Sheeis-Sheet 5 a l. 5 M H w J a w W m I fi l I M a a w w M n 7 z W m 4 -Vf Q M I, I- F F y Mil mwzs

July 31, 1923.

A. MITCHELL CONVERTIBLE DESK Filed July 23 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIIIIII/I/l Patented July 31, 1923.

ALEKANDER MITCHELL, OF PUEBLO,

COLORADO, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF TO SAM DOBIN.

CONVERTIBLE DESK.

Application filed. July 28, 1921. Serial No. 487,081

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER MITCHELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Pueblo, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in convertible desks and has as its general object to provide an article of furniture of this class which may be readily converted to serve as a flat top desk, a desk simulating a roll top desk, or a typewriter desk.

One of the more specific objects of the invention is to provide a desk of the type above mentioned so constructed that when converted to simulate a roll top desk there will be present the compartments for stationery, letters, etc., usually supported upon the upright back of such a desk, and when the desk is converted to one of the flat top type, this portion of the structure will be received and accommodated within the body of the desk without in any way interfering with the employment of such parts of the desk as are likely to be used when the desk is so converted.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and adjustably support the top of the desk that it may be readily and conveniently shifted to serve effectually as the desk top or to serve as the upright back of the desk when the desk is converted to simulate one of the roll top type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for maintaining the top of the desk assembled with the body in such manner that but little exertion will be required in shifting the top from one position to another.

A further object of the invention is to provide within the body of the desk a typewriter supporting table which when in use will be firmly supported in front of the desk and when not in use will be completely enclosed, together with. the typewriting machine supported thereon, within the body of the desk. 7

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the desk embodying the invention arranged for use either as a flat top desk or as a typewriter desk.

Figure 2 is a similar view but illustrating the desk converted to simulate one of the roll top type.

Figure 3 is a vertical front to rear sectional view through the desk taken in a plane at one side of the typewriter supportmg table, the top of the desk being illustrated in lower or horizontal position.

Figure 4 1s a similar view illustrating the top shifted to an upright position.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5. of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a detail vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Referring to the structure in a general way, the numeral 1 indicates in general the body of the desk, the numeral 2 the shiftable top, and the numerals 3 and 4 compartments which are provided at the opposite sides of the open front 5 of the body. Supporting legs 6 are located at the four corners of each of the compartments 3 and 4, and the compartment 3 is defined by one end wall 7 of the desk body 1, an oppositely located wall 8, a rear wall 9 which constitutes the rear wall of the body as a whole, and a front wall 10. This latter wall is provided with a suitable number of openings in which a tier of drawers 11 is arranged in the usual manner, these drawers being normally housed within the said compartment 3. The compartment 4 is defined by one end wall 12 of the desk, an oppositely located wall 13 which opposes and is suitably spaced from the wall 8, the rear wall 9 of the desk body, and a front wall 14 which latter is open throughout nearly its entire area although the open front of this compartment is adapted to be closed by a hinged door 15 the outer face of which is preferably embellished with the representation of drawer handles so that when the door 15 is closed the desk will have the appearance of being provided at its left hand side with a tier of drawers corresponding with the drawers 11.

The desk body includes a top which is indicated in general by the numeral 16 and which will presently be more specifically described, this top being suitably supported and secured at the upper edges of the walls defining the compartments 3 and 4. Beneath the said top 16, cleats 17 are secured to the side walls 12 and 13 of the compartment 4. and other cleats 18 are also seecured to these walls below and in spaced parallel relation to the cleats 17. The typewriter supporting table of the structure is indicated in general by the numeral 19 and the same comprises a supporting leaf 20 and a pair of leaves one indicated by the numeral 21 and the other by the numeral 22 which latter leaves are hingedly connected end to end as indicated by the numeral 23. The leaves 21 and 22 are superposed upon the leaf 20, and the leaves 20 and 21 of the assemblage are disposed with their lateral edge portions slidably guided between the cleats 17 and 18. In order that the sliding movement of the leaf 20 with relation to the leaves 21 and 22 may be hmited, the said leaf 20' is formed with a longitudinally extending slot 24, and the leaf 21 is provided upon its under side w th a downwardly projecting stud 25 working in said slot. By reference to Figure 4 of the drawings it will be observed that when the table comprising the leaf assemblage above described is not in use, the leaf 20 Wlll be disposed solely beneath the leaf 21, and the leaf 22 will depend from the forward end of the said leaf 21, the leaves 20 and 21 at such time being slid rearwardly between the cleats 17 and 18 with their rear ends substantially abutting the rear wall 9 of the desk body. When the parts are in th1s position, the leaf 22 will occupy a substantially vertical position within the compartment 4 and the typewriter supported thereby and illustrated in dotted lines in Figures 3 and 4 will therefore be housed within the compartment in rear of the door 15. When it is desired to make use of the typewritlng machine, the door is opened, the leaf 22 is swung upwardly and pulled outwardly or forwardly at the same time, and when it has been brought to the horizontal position shown in Figure 3, the leaf is slid forwardly as far as will be permitted by the engagement of the stud in the slot 24, and

so that it will extend beneath the leaf 22 as Well as beneath the leaf 21. Thus with the leaves arranged as stated, the leaf 20 will serve as a supporting means for the leaf 22 which in turn supports the typewriting machine. It will now be evident that the typewriter table of the desk may be readily and quickly brought into position for use when.- ever occasion requires, and may as readily and quickly be restored to its housed and gonfiealed position within the body of the es r The top 16 of the body comprises a fixed rear section 26 which is disposed and secured upon the upper edges of the walls '8 and 13 of the compartments 3 and 4 and which at its ends may also be secured to the end walls 7 and 12. The said top 16 also comprises a forward section which is naeaaee indicated by the numeral 27 and which is hinged at its rear edge as at 28 to the forward edge of the fixed section 26, the section 27 being adapted to be swung to position occupying the same plane as the section 26 and closing the space between the forward edge of this section and a front rail 29 which constitutes a part of the top of the desk body, as illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, when the desk is converted to simulate one of the roll top ty e. To fill the spaces which, otherwise, woul be left at the forward corners of the section 27 upon shifting of the top 2 of the desk to the upright position shown in Figure 2, suitably shaped corner pieces 30 are hingedly connected as at 31 with the forward corners of the said section 27 and are adapted to occupy the plane of this section when the section is in the lowered position shown in Figure 2. However when the desk is to be converted into one of the flat top type, the section 27 is to be swung upwardly and rearwardly upon its hinges 28 so as to lie upon the upper side of the section 26, and the corner pieces 30 are to be swung inwardly upon their hinges 31 so as to lie against what is normally the under side of the section 27, being thus accommodated within the bounds of the margin of the said section 27. For a purpose to be presently explained, the top 16 of the desk body is provided in planes parallel to and adjacent the walls 7 and 12 of the compartments 3 and 4, with upstanding segmental guides 32 the arcuate edges of which are indicated by the numeral 33 and are presented in an upward direction.

The top 2 is provided upon its under side with a depending rectangular frame 34 which, when the top is in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings or in other words in horizontal position, rests at the lower edges of its sides and ends upon the marginal portions of the top 16 of the desk body. As a means for bracing the top 2 when the same is in upright position as shown in Figure 2 and for holding the top assembled with the body of the desk, side boards 35 are pivotally connected as at 36 each at one corner to the corresponding end of the frame 34 of the desk top, and each of these side boards has an arcuate edge 37 extending along a curved line corresponding to the ward of the walls 7 and 12 of the compartments 3 and 4, and as the top 2 is lifted and bodily displaced in a rearward direction the edge 33 of the recausing it to assume the upright position Figure 2, the said side boards 35 will rest by gravity with their arcuate edges 37 in contact w1th the edges 33 of the guides 32 and will move rearwardly over these guides until the top 2 comes to rest in a vertical plane. Each side board 35 is provided at the forward end of its edge 37 with a nose 38 forming an angle with said edge and suitably spaced therefrom to adapt it to engage beneath the forward. ends of the respective guides 32 when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 4. Thus as the desk top is swung to vertical position, the sides thereof will ride over the guides 32, and finally the movement of the top will be arrested by the engagement of the noses 3S beneath the forward ends of the said guides. This coaction of the parts as well as the engagement of the edge of the frame 34 against the rear side of the desk body, serves effectually to firmlysupport the top in upright position when the desk is converted as shown in Figure 2.

In order to provide an additional means i for supporting the top 2 in the upright position shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the draw ings and also to assist in moving the top to this position from the horizontal position shown in Figure 3, rails 39 are disposed for sliding movement upon the upper side of the top section 26 and are provided with portions 40 projecting downwardly from their lower edges and working slidably in slots 41 formed in the said top section 26, these rails at their rear ends being provided with laterally projecting studs 42 which work in grooves 43 formed longitudinally in the inner sides of the ends of the frame 34. A bar 44 extends between and connects the rear ends of the said rails 39 and is slidably supported upon the upper surface of the top section 26, being adapted to occupy the position shown in Figure 3, when the top 2 is in horizontal position, and to occupy the position shown in Fig ure 4 when the top is in upright position. The rails 39 are urged to occupy the last mentioned position by springs 45 which are secured to the under side of the top section 26 and to a cross bar 46 which extends between the projecting portions 40 of the said rails 39 beneath the top section 26. In order that the rails 39 may be restrained against upward displacement, anti-friction rolls 47 are mounted upon the inner sides of the portions 40 of the two rails and ride against the under side of the top section 26 in proximity to the slots 41. It will now be evident that with the parts in the positions shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the supporting member comprising the rails 39 and bars 44 and 46 will be shifted forwardly and the springs 45 will be tensioned. Upon at the same time moving the top bodily rearwardly, the pull exerted by the springs 45 will assist in ur ing the top to the upright position whicli it occupies in Figure 4. Likewise when the top assumes this posi tion, the ends of the slots 43 which are then uppermost, will rest upon the studs 42 and thus the rails 39 and bar 44 willsustain a portion of the weight of the top.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the top 2 may be readily shifted from one position to another with little exertion and that when it is in the upright position shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the-drawings, the desk will simulate one of the roll top type, the side boards 35 constituting the equivalent of the sides of such a desk, and the top 2, in its upright position, constituting the equivalent of the upright back of' the desk. In order that all of the advantages of a roll top desk may be obtained when the top 2 is shifted to upright posi-. tion, the top is provided upon its under or inner side with a longitudinally extending cabinet 48 divided into a number of compartments or pigeon holes 49 for the reception of stationery, correspondence, etc. The front of the cabinet 48 is designed to be closed by a door 50 which is hinged at its upper edge to the upper sideof the front of the cabinet and, when the desk is in use, may be swung to the upright position shown in Figures 2 and 4. Previous to closing the top 2 so as to convert the desk into one of the flat top type, the door 50 will of course be swung downwardly to closed position and any suitable latch device 51 may be employed for the purpose of retaining the door in this position and preventing discharge of the'articles contained within the compartments 49. \Vhen the desk top 2 is in this latter position, the cabinet 48 will be received within the upper portion of the body of the desk and between the rail 29 and the forward sides of the top section 26, the section 27 being at such time folded back upon the sec-tion 26 as shown in F igure 3.

, Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In a convertible desk, a body, a fixed top thereon comprising a stationary section and a section movable to position in the same plane as the stationary section or to position overlying the stationary section, a bodily shiftable top movable to occupy a horizontal position resting upon the aflixed top or to occupy an upright position at the rear of the body, and a cabinet structure upon the under side of the shiftable top arranged to occupy the space vacatedlby the movable section of the stationary top when the shiftable top is in horizontal position.

2. In a convertible desk, a body, a top, guides attached to the body, pendent side members upon the top, the top beingbodily displaceable and the side members being arran ed to slide upon the upper edges of the gui es in the displacement of the top from a horizontal to an upright position and rest on the guides when the top is upright, and means for effecting interlocking engagement between the side members and the guides when the top is in upright position, the side members being free of the guides when the top is in horizontal position.

3. In a convertible desk, a body, a top bodily displaceable from a horizontal position resting upon the body to an upright position at the rear of the body, arcuate guides at the ends of the body, side members each connected at one end with the top and free at its opposite end and having an arcuate edge slidably engaging the adjacent arcuate guide, the said side members being adapted to assume an upright position within the ends of the body when the top is in horizontal position.

4. In a convertible desk, a body, a top bodily displaceablc from a horizontal position resting upon the body to an upright position at the rear of the body, arcuate guides at the ends of the body, side members connected at one end with the top and tree at the opposite end and having arcuate edges slidably engaging the arcuate guides,

the said side members being adapted to assume an upright position within the ends of the body when the top is in horizontal position, and means at the free end of each side member for locking engagement with the respective guide when the top is in upright position.

5. In a convertible desk, a body, a top bodily displaceable to assume a horizontal position resting upon the body or an upright position at the rear of the body, the said body having a stationary top, rails mount- I ed at the ends of the stationary top for sliding movement, means upon the rails for shiftably supporting the displaceable top, and means tending constantly to slide the rails to the positions to be occupied by them when the displaceable top is in upright position.

6. In a convertible desk, a body, a top bodily displaceable to assume a horizontal position resting upon the bod or an up right position at the rear of t e body, the

said body having a fixed top, rails mounted at the ends of the fixed top for. sliding movement, means upon the rails for sliittably supporting the displaceable top, and means tending constantly to slide the rails to the positions to be occupied by them when the displaceable top i in upright position, the said means comprising a bar extending between the rails beneath the fixed top, and a tension spring connected to the fixed top and to the said bar.

7. In a convertible desk, a body, a top bodily displaceable to assume a horizontal position resting upon the body or an upright position at the rear of the body, the said body having a stationary top, rails mounted at the ends of the stationary top for sliding movement, means upon the rails for shiftabiy supporting the displaceable top, and anti-friction supporting means upon the rails cooperating with the under side of the stationary top.

8. In a convertible desk, a body having a compartment, spaced guides within the compartment, hingedly connected leaves slidable in the guides and one adapted to support a machine to be housed within the compartment when not in use, and a leaf slidable in the guides and movable to position to extend beneath the machine supporting leaf when the latter is swung upwardly to supporting position.

9. In a convertible desk, a body having a compartment therein, guides in said compartment, leaves slidably fitted to said guides and hingedly connected end to end, the forward leaf being adapted to carry a machine to be housed within the compartment below the guides when not in use, a third leaf slidably fitted to the guides below the hingedly connected leaves, and a lostmotion connection between the third leaf and the rear hingedly connected leaf whereby the third leaf may have a limited sliding movement relative to the connected leaves and may be shifted to support the machinecarrying leaf or to permit the latter to swing downwardly.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

ALEXANDER MITCHELL. [n a] 

